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Sony W550 vs Sony A35

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
 
Sony SLT-A35 front
Portability
69
Imaging
57
Features
70
Overall
62

Sony W550 vs Sony A35 Key Specs

Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Announced July 2011
Sony A35
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 415g - 124 x 92 x 85mm
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Older Model is Sony A33
  • New Model is Sony A37
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Sony W550 vs Sony A35 Overview

Here is a in depth review of the Sony W550 vs Sony A35, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR and both are designed by Sony. The resolution of the W550 (14MP) and the A35 (16MP) is pretty similar but the W550 (1/2.3") and A35 (APS-C) use totally different sensor sizing.

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The W550 was revealed within a month of the A35 so they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A35 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the W550 scores against the A35 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Sony A35

 W550 A35 

Reasons to pick Sony A35 over the Sony W550

 A35 W550 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Sony W550 and Sony A35

 W550 A35 
RevealedJuly 2011September 2011Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Sony W550 vs Sony A35 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and dimensions. The Sony W550 enjoys external dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs) whilst the Sony A35 has dimensions of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 415 grams (0.91 lbs).

Look at the Sony W550 vs Sony A35 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the W550 compared to the A35.

Sony W550 vs Sony A35 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the W550 and A35 is 96 and 69 respectively.

Sony W550 vs Sony A35 top view buttons comparison

Sony W550 vs Sony A35 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing technical specs. The graphic here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the W550 and A35.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The W550 with its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh harder and the Sony A35 will deliver more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively.

Sony W550 vs Sony A35 sensor size comparison

Sony W550 vs Sony A35 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony W550 vs Sony A35 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sony W550 Portrait photography highlights
Sony A35 Portrait photography highlights
28
MP count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
74
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sony W550 as a Street photography camera
Sony A35 as a Street photography camera
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
71
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lighter than average (415 grams)
very good high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Sony W550 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A35 as a Sports photography camera
35
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
61
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
bad battery life (440 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony W550
Travel photography with Sony A35
65
MP count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
no Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
59
lighter than average (415 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
bad battery life (440 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sony W550 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A35 as a Landscape photography camera
42
reasonably wide (26mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Timelapse mode
69
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
bad battery life (440 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony W550 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A35 as a Vlogging camera
29
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow maximum aperture (f2.7)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external microphone support
36
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone port
lighter than average (415g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Sony W550 vs Sony A35 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony W550 and Sony A35
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550Sony SLT-A35
General Information
Brand Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 Sony SLT-A35
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2011-07-24 2011-09-20
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip BIONZ Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4320 x 3240 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 3200 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 26-104mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.7-5.7 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech Clear Photo LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,150 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 2 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.80 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 110g (0.24 lb) 415g (0.91 lb)
Dimensions 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") 124 x 92 x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 74
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 763
Other
Battery life - 440 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model NP-BN1 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots - 1
Launch price $119 $598